Roller-bearing wheel and means for attaching same to axle.



F. H. GlBB S. ROLLER BEARKNG WHEEL AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAME T0 AXLE.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT. 30,191 63- fnveneor &7 @H.

- F. H. GIBBS. RQLLER BEARING WHEEL AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAME T0 AXLE.

APPL'ICATION FILED OCT 30, l9l6.

Patented Feb. 12, 1938.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, [izvarzar W52 "L! A ell 4 FREDERICK H. GIBBS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERYliC-AN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ROLLER-BEARING WHEEL AND MEANS FOR ATTAOHING SAME 'TO AXLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed October 30, 1916. Serial No. 128,486.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. GIBBS, residing at borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Bearing l Vheels and Means for Attaching Same to Axles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a. wheel, an axle and a'fragment of a car body; v Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the hub of the wheel;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, thesection bei'ngtaken on line 3---3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, the section being taken on line 44 of Fig. 1; I I

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating inj section various commercially rolled sections of metal hereinafter referred to;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of a modification shown in section; I

Fig. 7 is a view simliar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified type of axle;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a further modification Fig. '9 is a composite sectional view, the half-section on the'left being taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and that on the right being taken online 9 of said figure;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, the section being taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a central longitudinalgvs ectional view showing the mvention applied to atubular axle; and

. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of a pressure ring hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of roller bearing wheels estal, are flanges and axles, and the means ofattaching said wheels to their axles, for use especially in mine cars, hough 1t isevldent thatmany of the combinations of elements herein described and illustrated in the drawings, are capable of use in other structures, including vehicles of various types, as well as in shop practice, and it is my intention to claim the same broadly, regardless of the specific use to which such combinations may be put. Referring specifically to the invention as applied to mine cars, it may be well to call attention to the fact that manufacture such cars are not always" able to obtain, in the open market, rolledsteel axles of a size which are ordinarily required for the small cars used in coal and other, mines, in consequence of which deliveries to customers are frequently delayed. Economy of manufacture and simplicity in the combination of the componentsare among the objects of the invention.

Another object of the invention. is to relieve the assembly of all i-frail parts which are likely to become damaged or broken and require renewal in service,.thereby producing a. complete structure in which the rugg'edness of the parts contributes materially to durability and continued service. I Referring specifically first to the axle construction of Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the middle portion of the axle, that is the portion intermediate the pedestals or journal boxes, hereinafter referred to, is preferably composed of a rolled" commercial section which may be, as shown in Fig. 1, a T-. section, 15; as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, an H-section. All this portion of the axle may be formed from any of the sections illus trated in Fig. 5, though preferably the section used should have one or more flat faces As a cylindrical spindle is desirable to enter the wheel hub, this is formedinivaria to 4 inclusive, the wheel spindle 16 and the pedestal 17 are cast as an integer and preferably. cast upon the outer end'portion of the axle section 15, though it is evident that the spindle and pedestal maybe separately formed and attached by rivet connection, or any other means (not shown) to the outer end portions of the rolled section15. J-

Cast integrally with the spindle ped- 18 which preferably are recessed at 19 to receive within, them the pressure ring 20-and the felt packing 21 which retain the lubricant'in the wheel, I

and it is to be noted that the metal formmg the spindle 16 is cored out at 22, see

Fig. 3, to provide a storage receptacleefor said lubricant within the wheel hub. Fig. 7 illustrates a modified form of axle in which the middle portion 15 is in the form of a commercially rolled H-section, to

the outer end portions of which, at each, end, are secured the combined wheel spindles 16 and pedestals 17, though, in this instance, the wheel spindle 16? is composed preferably of a steel casting cored out as at 22* to, form a lubricant-chamber and extending rearw-ardly in the form of bifurcated arms 17 which are securely riveted to the H-section, 15 by rivets 25 passing through the bifurcated arms 17 and the web .of said H-section 15 A modification of this general design, is shown in Figs. -8 and 10, in which the spindle 16 is provided with but one rearwardly extending arm 17 which is connected to the .web of the H-section 15 by rivet connec- 25 tending flange 26, to whichis directly bolted .a side wall 27 'of the car body, while inv Figs. 8 and 10, this flange is omitted and thev angle 28 rests directly upon the upper flanges of the rolled section 15? and bolts 29 extend through the vertical leg of said angle to connect to it the side wall 27 while bolts 30 pass through the floor 31, the horizontal leg 32 of said angle, and an outstanding upper flange of said rolled section 15*.

Broadly stated, the distinguishing difference between the end portions of the axle construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and that shownin Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, is that in the first formthe end portion of the axle is a composite structure comprising a rolled section and a casting, whereas, in the other figures, the end portions of the axle are of cast metal, preferably of cast steel.

The use of either of these constructions obviates the necessity. of using rolled steel axles and permits the utilization of'such commercial shapes as are readily obtainable in the open market, together with tastings which under normal conditions may be se-.

cured upon short notice.

In the construction shown in Fig. 11, the axle illustrated is in some respects similar to that shown in Peckham Patent No. 302864, of July 29, 1884, modified, however, to adapt it to the present invention which includes means for securing a roller bearing wheel upon said axle.

The Beckham axle was of uniformdiameter from end to end and contemplated no means within the length of the axle proper for securing it'any type ofwheel.

ln this figure the'tubular axle 'isicontinuous from end to end and is reinforced within the zone of compression within the wheel and includes a lubricant reservoir 22" from which lubricant maybe fed through the openings 22 to the rollers hereinafter described. The axle illustrated includes means for securing the wheel thereto, something not contemplated by Peckham. Referring now to the wheel casting, it will be noted that it is, in many respects, similar to mine car wheels as commonly used, in that it is provided with a tread 35 and flange 36, a hub portion 37 and spokes 38, the outer end of the hub being preferably closed, as. shown at 39, though it is ,evident that the'closed hub is'not essential to the invention and any type of axle end and any type of either open or closed hub may be employed, as disclosed in the prior art.

In the type of wheel illustrated with the:

closed hub, however, it is essential, that means be provided to permit insertion of the rollers and to that end an opening is provided through the outer wall of the hub, which opening is, in the present instance,

closed by means of thescrew-threaded plug 40, and it is to be noted that this opening should be large enough "to permit insertion therethrough of the largest bearing roller which it is intended shall be used in the roller bearing assembly hereinafter described and to secure the plug in position it, as well as the opening in which it is 'received, is screw-threaded, in addition tov which any other suitable means may be 'employed, if desired, to lock said plug in position. 1 i

As cast metal, such as is used in mine car wheels, usually comes from the molds with a surface which is somewhat rough, it has been common practice to bore out these-hubs and insert therein a lining against which the rollers may bear.

There is no serious objection -to this method of assembly, but to expedite the manufacture of the wheel I prefer to form this lining separately and cast in position,

thereby providing in the Wheel, as it comes from the mold, a suitable bearing within the wheel for the rollers. v

To that end, the lining 42, best shown in Fig. 11, is provided with an outstanding flange 43 which, as will be. evident, locks the lining in position when the metal forming the wheel hub is cast about it.

This lining is .provided intermediate its inner and outer ends with a circumferential inwardly projecting annulus 44, which may be of anysuitable contour, and in alinement therewith, when the wheel and axle are properly assembled, a similar outstanding circumferential annulus 45 is provided on the axle in that portion thereof which rests within the wheel hub. i

The annuli 44 and 45 maybe provided in any suitable manner, as for example, as

illustrated in Fig. 11, in which I the wheel hub and the axle be cast .j'ido so, means are provided for assisting hub anda part of the their ends,

sembled, and, due to the it is part of a casting forming the lining of the wheel axle swaged outwardly as shown in the o be .of thinner metal within with a spindle portion provided with an annulus corresponding with the annulus 45 of Fig..11'. v

As best illustrated in Fig. 3, the annuli 44 and 45 are intermitted to facilitate introduction of the bearing rollers between the axle and the wheel hub, and it is to be noted that the rollers 50 are provided, intermediate with annular grooves 51 adapted to be brought into coincidence with the annuli 44 and 45 when the-parts are as.- interfitting and interlocking of said parts, the rollers are held in position upon the axle and through said or, the lining may rollers the wheel is also looked in operative.

position upon said axle.

Though it is not absolutely necessary to the annulus 44 to retain the rollers .in position,

. plug,

y when said. means comprising the insertible plug 52-, illustrated in Fig. 11, which is'held in position by the cotter pin 53 projected through suitable orifices in the outstanding lug 54 on the wheel hub and in the plug 52, thereby It may be desirable to screw-thread the and in Figs. 1 and 3 the plug is shown screw-threaded, and, in whatever form used, it is preferredthat the inner end 55 of the plug be wedge-shaped so as to practically complete the outer annulus 44.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the annulus 45 comprises a ring shrunken into a circumferential groove in the wheel spindle 16.

Instead of casting the cylinder or lining 42 in position, it may be inserted after the wheel hub is cast and bored and the outer end portion 43 may be distorted radially, as shown in Fig. 7 to form a locking flange to hold-said lining-.42 in position.

When the wheel is to be attached to the axle, the intermitted portions of the annuli 44 and 45 should be uppermost and the rollers inserted one at a time through the space provided thereby,'after which the plugs 40 and 52 may be inserted.

When it is desired to' disassemble the wheel and axle, the osition of the parts should be reversed wit the intermitted portions of the annuli 44 and 45 at the bottom, that is, in the position normally occupied the composite structure is in operation. a

comprising ther figures, in whichlocking said plug removably in ponected to a car separately formed parts in its lower portion, an axle formed in part of a rolled section and in part of cast spindles lapping said rolled section, and means penctrating and co-acting with said axle and said separately formed body parts whereby said parts and axle are maintained properly positioned by each other.

2. In combination in a mine car, a body portion having floor-forming sections, an axle formed in part of a floor stifiener of rolled section and in part of cast spindles lapping said rolled sections, and means rigidly interlocking the lapping portion of said spindle and rolled section with some of said floor sections, difierent means interlocking other floor sections with said rolled section, and wheels interlocked with said spindles.

3. In combination in a mine car, a body portion, an axle comprising a middle portionformed of a rolled commercial section secured to said body portion, cast pedestals fitting said rolled commercial section and spindles cast integral with said pedestals.

4. In a car, a body, an axle terminating in wheel-spindles having wheel-receiving portions with intermediate annular ribs adapted to interlock with means internally combined with wheel-hubs, said axle being provided with an intermediate portion formedfrom a commercially rolled metal section adapted to be connected directly to said body.

5. In combination, an axle terminating in indles, reinforcements extending longitudinally within such spindles, wheels adapted to house the outer ends of said spindles and rollers interlocking with the wheels and spindles to secure the wheels thereon and to hold portions of said u aeels opposed to the ends of said reinforcements.

6. In combination, an. axle comprising spindles of cast metal having portions adapted to project into wheel hubs and a ,commercially rolled member having end portions extending with constantly uniform cross sectional area through the portions of said spindles that are adapted to enter wheel hubs, said rolled member also forming the intermediate portion of the axle.

7. As an article of manufacture, an axle comprising a commercially-rolled middle portion having flanges adapted to be conbody and having cast metal wheel-spindles with wheel-receiving portions annularly ribbed intermediate the terminals of said portions, saidspindles forming end portions lapping said commercially rolled middle portion.

8. In combination in a car, an axle having a portion thereof formed from a rolled section and wheel spindles'cast upon and having portions containing lubricant pockets tion.

from a commercially rolled section bent 1 1pwardly at its middle portion and havmg pedestal boxes provided with car body seats I and wheel; spindles cast upon'its end portions. I

10. In combination in a, car; an axle formed from a flanged section of metal with wheel spindles of cast metal entirely surrounding end portions thereof. hating uniform cross sectlon. I

11. In combinatlon, a T-SECtlOIl form ng an axle with wheel-spindlesofi cast metal entirely surrounding endportions "tneleof,

said spindles having Wheel-receiv1ng portions comprising in cross section outer annular portions merging with portions fit ted to and embracing-[the end portions of said T-vsection.

In witness whereof I' have hereunto set my hand in the resence of two witnesses.

F EDERICK H. GIBBS.

Witnesses: a

EDw. D. 'HILLMAN, FLORA M. CURTIS. 

